Community Support Service

Updated 16 October 2018

We carried out this inspection under Section 60 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 as part of our regulatory functions. This inspection was planned to check whether the provider is meeting the legal requirements and regulations associated with the Health and Social Care Act 2008, to look at the overall quality of the service, and to provide a rating for the service under the Care Act 2014.

This comprehensive inspection took place on 30 August 2018 and was announced. We gave the service five days notice. This was so that we could be sure that staff would be available. The inspection was undertaken by two inspectors, an assistant inspector and an expert-by-experience. An expert-by-experience is a person who has personal experience of using or caring for someone who uses this type of care service.

Prior to the inspection we used information the provider sent us in the Provider Information Return dated 12 January 2018. This is information we require providers to send us at least once annually to give some key information about the service, what the service does well and the improvements they plan to make. We reviewed other information we held about the service to aid with our inspection planning. This included past inspection reports and notifications. A notification is information about important events which the service is required to send us by law.

We also contacted other health and social care organisations such as representatives from the local authority contracts and quality team; Healthwatch, the local safeguarding authority and a specialist mental health practitioner. This was to ask their views about the service provided. This was to help us in the planning of our inspection and the judgements we made.

We spoke with nine relatives of people using the service who could give us their views of the care and support their family member received. We spoke with the registered manager, two business support assistants, an acting care co-ordinator, a co-ordinator of the provider team and five support workers.

We looked at care documentation for four people, three staff files, staff supervision and training records. We also looked at other records relating to the management of the service including audits and action plans; accident and incident records; surveys; meeting minutes and complaint and compliment records.

Updated 16 October 2018

Community Support Service is a domiciliary care service that is registered to provide personal care to children and younger people; when living in their own homes or by supporting them in the community. The service supports these people to live more active and independent lives and provides respite for parents. The service was for children and younger people living with a learning or physical disability or sensory impairment. At the time of our inspection there were 45 people using the service.

At our last inspection on 25 February 2016 we rated the service good. At this announced inspection we found the evidence continued to support the rating of good and there was no evidence or information from our inspection and ongoing monitoring that demonstrated serious risks or concerns. This inspection report is written in a shorter format because our overall rating of the service has not changed since our last inspection.

There was a registered manager in post at the time of this inspection. A registered manager is a person who has registered with the Care Quality Commission to manage the service. Like registered providers, they are ‘registered persons’. Registered persons have legal responsibility for meeting the requirements in the Health and Social Care Act 2008 and associated Regulations about how the service is run.

People were supported by staff who knew about safeguarding and its reporting processes. Risk assessments were in place as guidance for staff to support and monitor people’s assessed risks. People’s care records were held securely to ensure confidentiality. People had equipment in place to help staff assist them to receive safe care and support.

Staff had been recruited safely prior to working at the service. People’s needs were met as there were enough staff with the right skills and knowledge. Staff were trained to meet people’s care and support needs. People’s medicines were administered as prescribed and managed safely. Systems were in place to maintain infection prevention and control. Actions were taken to learn any lessons when things did not go as planned.

People were supported with their eating and drinking to promote their well-being. People received a caring service by staff who knew them well. People’s privacy and dignity was maintained by staff.

People were involved in their care decisions and staff promoted people’s independence as far as practicable. People were supported to have maximum choice and control of their lives and staff supported them in the least restrictive way possible.

Staff supported people to access external healthcare services. Staff worked with other organisations to help ensure that people's care was coordinated.

Activities were in place to support people’s hobbies, interests and well-being. To promote people’s social inclusion, staff supported people with their links and trips out to the local community.

Compliments were received about the service and people were aware of how to make a complaint or raise a concern.

The registered manager led by example and encouraged an open and honest culture within their staff team. Audit and governance systems were in place to identify and drive forward any improvements required. The registered manager and their staff team worked together with other organisations to ensure people’s well-being.

Further information is in the detailed findings below.